Updated information is available. (29 Aug 2017)According to two news reports, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expected to greatly expand the use of in-person interviews for foreign nationals seeking certain immigration benefits while in the United States. The information, however, is fairly...
According to various news reports, President Trump is likely to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA is a program that provides travel and work authorization to qualifying undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. The program was...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a grant opportunity for organizations that provide certain types of immigration services. These grants are being awarded with the goal of preparing lawful permanent residents (i.e. "green card" holders) for the naturalization process, with a focus...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently updated the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM), which provides official guidance to consular officers, in light of the 'Buy American, Hire American" executive order (EO) signed by President Trump on April 18, 2017. The DOS FAM update primarily serves...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released a revised version of the employment eligibility verification form (I-9 form). Employers may start using the new I-9 now, and must use it beginning September 18, 2017. Background on Form I-9 U.S. employers and workers are likely familiar...
Most months, Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), provides visa bulletin explanations and predictions. The information for the September 2017 Visa Bulletin includes updated predictions for fiscal year 2018 (FY18), which begins October 1,...
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced expansion of the biometric exit technology pilot program to Washington Dulles International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. The program uses facial recognition technology...
On July 31, 2017, John Kelly was sworn in as President Trump's new chief of staff, replacing the recently ousted Reince Priebus. Prior to taking on his new role, Kelly had been serving as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), since January...
In a recent trend, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun to deny advance parole (AP) applications (form I-131) for applicants who have traveled abroad before their applications are approved. This is in stark contrast to the previous, longstanding policy, which allowed...
The September 2017 Visa Bulletin, which is the last visa bulletin of fiscal year 2017, was released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) this morning. There was no movement in the dates for filing chart, and only a bit of progress in the final...
